I'm not a big fan of belt clips, I've always prefered to keep my mobile devices in either a coat pocket, front pants pocket, or in my laptop case. It only took me 3 days with my Pearl to lock up my trackball for the first time because of lint/debris. I was easily able to unstick the trackball, but now I'm afraid to keep it in a pocket. Are sticking trackballs really that big of a deal and something I should worry about? Spare trackballs are cheap and the instructions on how to pop them out and clean them seem pretty simple so maybe I shouldn't worry too much about it.

I'm not a big fan of belt clips, I've always prefered to keep my mobile devices in either a coat pocket, front pants pocket, or in my laptop case. It only took me 3 days with my Pearl to lock up my trackball for the first time because of lint/debris. I was easily able to unstick the trackball, but now I'm afraid to keep it in a pocket. Are sticking trackballs really that big of a deal and something I should worry about? Spare trackballs are cheap and the instructions on how to pop them out and clean them seem pretty simple so maybe I shouldn't worry too much about it.

Trust me...I know others will disagree but I carry my Pearl neked in my pocket and have for about a year. Yes, you will get lint but locking the keyboard and rolling the ball while keeping it depressed will make it function again. Trackballs are cheap and easily replacable. I have done it twice, not because it wouldn't function but because the ball became dark and no longer white.

I say go for it if that is your preference. An alternative is to buy a thin case without clip and slide the pearl in before placing in pocket.

I pocket-carry mine and use the black leather "slip" style case that came with it (VZW 8130). The slip case covers the keyboard and track-ball, but leaves the speaker opening exposed. The other benefit is that the slip case puts the Pearl into stand-by mode when you slide it in, rather than having to hit the mute button. It does not have a belt clip and is still rather thin.

I have had mine in my pocket for over a year. The first 9 months were great, no trackball problems. Then for a couple of months, the trackball would stick, but pushing it down and rolling it would get it unstuck. The it got worse, to the point where I had to disassemble 'most' of the trackball, but that only worked for a week or two. Finally I had to take the entire trackball assembly apart, down to the little, tiny magnetic wheels. After that, it works like the day I bought it.

I pocket-carry mine and use the black leather "slip" style case that came with it (VZW 8130). The slip case covers the keyboard and track-ball, but leaves the speaker opening exposed. The other benefit is that the slip case puts the Pearl into stand-by mode when you slide it in, rather than having to hit the mute button. It does not have a belt clip and is still rather thin.

Hoppy

I've got one of these too (made by RIM-pretty cheap, black leather). Works great for a year. No trackball lockups. I has a "rail" down the front do the tb doesn't touch the side of the case when it slips in/out. The thumbgrip cutout on the back even exposes the speaker hole on my Seidio battery cover.

You could also get entire phone body coverage from BestSkinsEver or Invisible Shield (I think the Invisible Shield version covers a little more - the sides - than the BestSkinsEver, but you'll have to check that).